Another three Australian soldiers dead in an Afghanistan war and you have to wonder where all the peaceniks within the Labor Party have gone to. Plus, bringing back the tick and other political news.
June, 2010
Morning Market Report: Markets down, the Yaun unpegs itself
News about the gradual unpegging of the Yuan to the US$ helped markets early but ran out of steam towards the end of the session.
Media briefs: Fairfax rules the airwaves … The Fin soars like Eagles
MTR has its work cut out for it, since it’s already slipped in ratings. Plus, Business Spectator’s new thespian, Nine cuts down Telstra and other media news of the day.
Video of the Day: Kevin O’Lemon
Another hilarious ad by the Liberal Party mocking Kevin Rudd and the excitement of Kevin07. Or, as they prefer to call him, Kevin O’Lemon.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: No debate on veterans’ entitlements
Veterans are less than impressed with Tony Abbott stifling a debate on veterans’ entitlements…
Beyond the despair: just another white fella with a notepad
A pervasive and profound sense of hopelessness has settled over much of indigenous Australia. Journalism student Clare Negus visited townships in Western Australia to report on how communities keep the faith.
Digger’s wife: our troops believe in the Afghanistan cause
Three more Australian defence personnel are dead in Afghanistan, so how high a price are we willing to pay? A Digger’s wife responds — those serving, she says, believe in the cause.
Crikey Says: Where to from here?
As we hit the publish button, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin is announcing the passage of the welfare reform bill, thereby restoring the Racial Discrimination Act.
Online students download poorer test results
New research claims children who use computers with high-speed broadband connections may suffer academically as a result. Are parents trying to get little Tommy a quick net connection inadvertently scoring an F for responsibility?
All for yuan and yuan for all
China’s yuan has been unofficially pegged to the US dollar for two years now, but the People’s Bank of China is now allowing more flexibility. It’s already appreciated 0.42 percent, but what other changes will occur?
Memo to Obama: “climate change” isn’t a dirty word
Barack Obama’s Trojan Horse — trying to smuggle climate change action in amongst economic issues — is just diluting his climate message, says environmentalists. But maybe it will help convince the sceptics, says David Roberts.
Peeling away the newspaper wrap biz
Have you ever struggled to remove that annoying plastic wrapping on your daily newspaper? Companies behind a new machine claim they will revolutionise the newspaper wrap industry, but is this just a case of sticky PR?
Van Onselen: Save us Julia, save us!
Julia Gillard needs to launch a challenge for the ALP leadership to save Kevin Rudd from himself. She can’t use loyalty as an excuse for wimping out, writes Peter van Onselen.
Iran explodes over UN inspectors
More conflict between Iran and the U.N. has ensued following the ban of two nuclear inspectors from Tehran. Iran officials allege the inspectors leaked false information about experiments conducted at a research laboratory.
Farr: Tony is a hindrance, not a help for the Libs
Tony Abbott is not a popular man and the Liberals need to think long and hard about whether he is the best person to lead their party, writes Malcolm Farr.
Cadbury family politics get Krafty
It’s now seemingly likely that British company Cadbury will be taken over by Kraft, or as one Cadbury family member calls them “an American plastic cheese company”. Will family bickering ruin the deal?
Time to bring the troops home?
Daily Media Wrap: The government’s resolve to stay in the war in Afghanistan has again been called into question following the grim news yesterday that another three Australian soldiers have been killed.
Beware the substance of nothing
Newspoll may be described as “the most influential in Australia”, but it’s just a poll and is no more or less accurate than any other pollster with an accurate sampling frame run by professional people knowledgeable about statistics, says Possum Comitatus.
Labor marginal seats at risk
Whereas yesterday’s Newspoll gave Kevin Rudd cause for relief, today’s Newspoll results on marginal seats are grim for Labor, with two key seats in NSW and three seats in Queensland at risk, says William Bowe.
Mendoza: Mental health is “in crisis”
John Mendoza, who resigned last week as chairman of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health, gives a damning assessment of the Rudd government’s treatment of mental health.
Atkins: Killing the ETS killed Rudd’s popularity
It’s not the mining tax that’s had a massive effect on Rudd’s polling, it’s voters becoming disillusioned by the shelving of the ETS. But he will lead the party to the next election, writes Dennis Atkins.
A brand new start of it, in old New York
Kristin Moore went to New York twenty years ago, when it was grungy and dangerous and full of warehouse parties. This time she took her 15 year-old son along for a holiday. What’s changed?
